A sense of an individual’s identity can forge bonds or create rifts, and an inclusive program of small-group engagement--Sustained Dialogue--is again working to bridge those divides.

SD is a joint project of the Provost’s Office and Student Affairs, and organizers have ambitious plans to double the number of students, faculty, and staff participating in its weekly dialogue groups in the 2014-2015 academic year.

“Most people on campus know that SD exists. But if we want to create a true culture of dialogue across campus, not limited to a select few, we need more Beloiters to step up and get involved,” says Bill Conover, director of the college’s Spiritual Life Program. "The good habits of dialogue one develops in an SD group have a way of spilling over into one's classes, work and social life."

Conover wants this fall’s groups to contain a representative mix of Beloiters, “a true cross-section of social identities represented on campus. Last year was a great start,” he says. “This year, to elevate SD's impact on campus, we need more men, more students of color, more athletes, and more diversity of academic majors."

How to learn more/get involved:

Students:

Sign up here to attend the Inclusive Leadership Workshop this Saturday, Aug. 30. This event will give you a feel for SD before deciding to apply for one of the weekly groups.

Apply here to join a weekly group starting up this fall. The deadline for this is Friday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. and groups start the next week.

Now entering the second year of its three-year pilot, Sustained Dialogue “is intended to support intercultural literacy at the college in and out of the classroom and, longer term, to help create a campus culture where dialogue is the norm.” For more general information and sample comments from last year’s group moderators, click here.